Liquid level gauge



J. Y. TAYLOR LIQUID LEVEL GAUGE Dec. 11, 1951 Filved July 31, 1946 Dec.1l, 1951- J. Y. 'TAYLOR LIQUID LEVEL GAUGE Filed July 31, 1946 INVENToR.

aif/"IES y. TA YLOR v Patented Dec. 11, 1951 UNITED S TATES PATNT GFFICELIQUID *LEVEL GAUGE James Y. Taylor, Garland, Tex.

Application July 31, 1946, Serial No. 687,341

l `1 Claim. This invention relates :to new V.and useful improvements inliquid levelgages, and has 4 particular reference to leakproof magnetictype liquidlevelgages for fluids or liquied gases and especially thosestored under pressure such as butane and propane.

`An object of the invention is to simplify the construction of gages orindicating devices of the class disclosed herein whereby to obtain an`improved form of device of a unitary construction which is economical tomanufacture.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved deviceof the character described wherein the weightorcounterweight may beaccurately controlled according to the length of float arm employed.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide a new and improved liquidlevel gage of the character described wherein the Vfioat arm,counterweight andk gear are formed .effectively integral, therebyproviding an accurate, trouble free construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved,effectively integral counterbalance weight, gear and float armconstruction for liquid level gages whereby said weight and gear may beformed and secured to said float arm in a single operation and whereinthe size of said weight may be controlled according to the length offloat arm employed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings. It will be understood that many changes may be made in thedetails of construction and arrangement of parts shown and describedwithout departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed in theaccompanying claim. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the exactdetails of construction and arrangement of parts shown and described asthe preferred form has been shown and described by way of illustrationonly.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a gage embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an end view taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in thedirection of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side view taken along line 3 3 of Fig. 1,looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view, generally similar to Fig. 3 but on anenlarged scale; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional View taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 4, looking in thedirection of the arrows.

`Referring more particularly to the drawings .wherein similar referencecharacters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,the device shown formed according to theinvention comprises-a gage headdesignated generally at I,'a rotatably-mounted shaft 2, and a pivotallymounted actuating arrangement designated generally at 3.

The gagehead l comprises a housingmember t having the housing sections 5and E separated by the wall 1. The dial 8, which is non-magneticmaterial or plastic and which isfsecured to the peripheral fla-nge 9onthe housingmember-d and thecover glass lll, of transparent plastic orglass, is secured to said flange 9 over thedial B.

The housing section B is closed by the member Il which is securedto thehousing member t by screws or the like I2, and the member Il has acentral recess or opening and a depending annular fiange 'i3 ashereinafter described.

`The pivot post I4 is mounted in an opening in the wall 'l and has`pivotally-mounted thereon the pivot member I5 which carries the pointeror dial indicator It. Secured to the pivot l5 is the bar magnet I1 whichis adapted to be pivoted or rotated upon similar movement of and throughthe magnetic force of another bar magnet i3 secured to the upper end ofthe shaft or rod 2 in the housing section 6 and said magnet I8 isadapted to be pivoted upon pivotal movement of said shaft 2 whereuponcorresponding pivotal movement is effected of the magnet ll whichthereby causes rotation of the pivot member I5 and pointer i6.

The cylindrical or tubular member l?. surrounding the rod or shaft 2 hasone end secured to the flange i3 on the member l! and has its oppositeend secured to the flange 29 on the pivot fork 2| on which is pivotallymounted the actuating arrangement 3 by the pivot pin 22.

The pivotally mounted actuating arrangement 3 comprises the segmentalgear 23 adapted to mesh with the gear 2d on the reduced end of the shaft2 to thereby drive said gear E@ and thereby drive the shaft 2.

The arrangement also includes the float 25 and the oat arm 25 andcounterwcight 2? which are effectively integrally formed or united withthe segmental gear 23.

This unitary construction is preferably formed `by die casting asfollows:

of float arm 26 employed and then casting the Weight 21, gear 23 andanchoring the float arm 26 in the countervveight 27 in a singleoperation. The float 25 may then be secured to the float arm 26 byinserting the end of the float arm 26 into the float 25 through anopening in the Wall of the float and soldering to seal the opening andsecure the float 28 and float arm 28 in assembled relation.

By employing this process the Weight of the counterweight -27 may beaccurately controlled relative to the length of iioat arm 26 employedand thus providing an eiectively unitary construction of float arm,weight and segmental geai and as these elements are eectively integralthe assembly of the device is made easier, simpler and much moreeconomical and also assuring that the parts will be permanently retainedin desired assembled relation.

The float arm 28 may be adjusted by bending relative to the Weight 21 asshown in Figs. 3 and 4 until the rod and float Will hang vertical withWeight 27 adjacent member I8 when the tank is empty. This adjusts theposition of pointer I6 on dial 8.

In operation the float 25 will be adjusted according to the quantity ofuid in the tank. As this float 25 moves, it causes pivotal movement ofiioat arm 26 and gear 23 which is engaged with gear 24 and causesrotation of said gear 24 and therethrough the shalt 2 and magnet [8.

The pivotal movement of magnet I8 eiects corresponding pivotal movementof magnet I7 and pivot l to which magnet I7 is secured and on which issecured pointer I6 Which indicates on dial 8 the quantity of fluid inthe tank.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided simple,efficient and economical means and process for obtaining all of theobjects and advantages of the invention.

Having described my invention, I claim:

In a device of the character described, a dial and associated indicatingmeans, means for caus- 4 ing movement of said indicating means relativeto said dial, a rotatable hub member, a segmental gear member formed onone end of said hub engaging said last mentioned means, an armprojecting from the intermediate portion of said hub, an angularlydisposed arm supported by said rst mentioned arm, a counterbalanceweight formed on the outer end of said angularly disposed arm, allformed as an integral die casting, and a float supporting arm positionedin and extending outwardly from the opposite end of said last mentionedarm and secured therein a calculated predetermined distance during thedie casting operation.

JAMES Y. TAYLOR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 904,519 Dyer Nov. 24, 1908951,753 Anderson Mar. 8, 1910 1,233,338 Gelatt July 17, 1917 1,308,620Broad July l, 1919 1,432,157 Cox Oct. 17, 1922 1,599,221 Ehrbar Sept. 7,1926 1,798,434 Ruopp Mar. 31, 1931 2,021,615 Stuart Nov. 19, 19352,121,675 White June 21, 1938 2,300,614 Connolly et al Nov. 3, 1942FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 86,249 Austria Nov. 10, 1921 OTHERREFERENCES A book entitled: Die Casting for Engineers, published by TheNew Jersey Zinc Co., Front Street, New York, N. Y., copyright, 1942.

